Can forming and soldering machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. KELLER.

CAN FORMING AND SOLDERING MACHINE.

Patented June 14, 1892.

(N0 M0de1.)- a Sheets- Sh eet 2.

L. KELLER.

CAN FORMING AND SOLDERING MACHINE.

N.0.'476,927. Patented June 14, 1892.

Illllllllillllllllllllll m 3 SheetsSheet (No Model.)

L. KELLER.

CAN FORMING AND SOLDBRING MACHINE.

N0. 476,9271 Patented June 14, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEO KELLER, OFCIIICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN FORMING AND SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,927, dated June14;, 1892.

Application filed January 12, 1892- Scrlal No. 417,873. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEO KELLER, a citizen of'the Empire of Germany,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Forming andSoldering Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a machine for formingand soldering cans, the object being to provide a machine of thischaracter that will accomplish the above results in an expeditious andefficient manner.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationof parts hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aside elevation of the operative parts of my machine with the sides ofthe frame removed for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a detailView of the deflecting rails for throwing out the wings of the former.Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine with a section of thesprocket-chain removed for convenience of illustration. Fig. 5 is adetail sectional view of the solder-pot. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation ofthe lower end of the rod connected with valve of said solder-pot. Figs.7 and 8 are details of the heating devices for the soldering-iron andpot. Fig. 9 is a detail side elevation of the former-plate andformerblock detached. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of same. Fig. llisatop plan in detail of the former-plate. Fig. 12is a bottom plan of theformer-block. Fig. 13 is a detail viewof connection between former-plateand chain.

Referring to said drawings, A, A, A and A indicate the supporting archesor frame of the machine, consisting, preferably, of four arches arrangedequidistant, as shown in Fig. 1. Between the arches A and A and A and Aare the supporting or connecting pieces 1 and 2, and upon theseconnectingpieces 1 and 2 are mounted the shafts 3, upon which thesprocket wheels at are arranged. The

sprocket-wheels 4: are connected bya sprock et-chain 5, and saidsprocket-chain is provided with downwardly-projecting bearing lugs orcars 6. One of the shafts 3 is provided with suitable means for rotatingthe same.

The devices for shaping or forming the can consist, essentially, of twoprincipal members, a former-plate B and former-block O. In Fig. 1 of thedrawings the said sprocketchain is shown as provided with only six pairsof these forming devices; but it will be understood that in practice foreach four in number of the lugs 6 a pair of these forming devices isprovided, the others being omitted in Fig. 1 for convenience ofillustration. In said Fig. 1,however, enough of these form ing devicesare shown as to illustrate the operation of my machine.

The plate B is provided near its rear end with a downwardly-projectingfinger 7, that is rigidly secured to the lower face of said plate, whilethe lower end of said finger 7 is secured to one of the lugs 6,preferably by a yielding connect-ion attained by inserting a piece ofelastic material 8such as a piece of rubber or any other elasticcushion-between the pivot 9, that holds the finger to one of the lugs,and the wall of the slot 10, forming said finger. Near the forward endof the plate and to the under face thereof is located a lug 11, that ispivotally secured between the bifurcated upperend of thelink 12 by meansof pivoted opening 13. The pivot-apertures in the upper end of said linkare slotted, and an elastic cushion lat is located between thebifurcated portion of the link, so that the lower end of the lug 11rests thereon, thereby providing a yielding and pivotal connectionbetween the forward end of the plate B and said link. The lower end ofthe link is pivotally secured to the pair of lugs just in advance ofthelugs 6, to which a downwardlyprojecting finger 7 is pivoted. It willthus be seen that when that portion of the chain to which the plate issecured is traveling in a straight line between the sprocket-wheels theplate will be held parallel thereto; but when such portion of the chainis going around the sprocket-wheels the plate conforms to such movementby reason of the pivotal eonneetion above described. The forward end of25 Figs. 1, 4c, and 9.

60 plate.

, 65 shown in Figs. 1 and 4c.

the plate 13 is provided with a projection 15, through which anadjusting-screw 16 passes,

to be referred to more fully hereinafter.

On either side of the plate 13 are pivoted the wings 17 and 13, morefully referred to hereinafter. The former-block C, around which the canis formed, is secured to the sprocket-chain just in the rear of theplate B and is in cross-section and elevation of the to shape that it isdesired that the can should take. To the rear end of the former-block isa rigid downwardly-projeeting arm 19, that is pivoted at itslower end tothe pair of lugs (5, just in the rear of the lugs to which the rearfinger 7 of the plate is secured, and the length of said arm is soarranged with relation to the size of the former-block and the locationof 5 the plate that when that portion of the chain to which it issecured is traveling between the 2o sprcctet-wheels and link 20, pivotedat onci end to the pair of lugs 6, just in the rear of lugs (5 to whicharm 19 is attached, and at its 1 other end in aslot 21 in said arm 19,it will hold the block down upon the plate, as shown in l When, however,such por-: tion of the chain passes aroundthe wheel, the lugs on thedifferent sections of thechain are separated slightly by reason of thecurvature of the wheel, so that the link will draw the o arm 19 backwarda little distance, and thus The 1 wings 17 and 18 of the plate are ofsuch a length that when the former-block rests on said plate said wingswill reach to the upper 3 5 edge of the block, and the said wings areprotake the former-block off of the plate.

V-ided at their outer ends with flanges 22 and in Fig. 10.

the upper face of the block. The said formerblock 0 is formed in twopieces 24 and 25, said part 25 being pivotally secured to the other 5part, and such parts are capable of a slight movement relatively to eachother. It will of course be understoodthatthesides of the formerblockgradually taper to give the tapering shape to the can that is formedthereon, as

shown in Fig. 12, and the pivotal connection between such parts 24L and25 is located adjacent the'larger end of the former-block. A pivot 26secures such parts together, and the upper part 25 is provided wit h aforwardly-projecting finger 27, which is provided with adownwardly-projectingpin 2S, and a spring 2!), connecting the parts 2 Land 25, serves to hold the part- 25 at thelower limit of its movementwhen the former-block is not resting upon the When, however, the formerblock and plate are together, as shown in Fig. 1, the pin 28 strikes theupper end of an adjacent screw 16, and thereby lifts the upper part 25of the block against the tensions of the spring 29,as The arches A and Aare provided with guide-rails 30, that receive the outer ends ofguide-arms 31, that are convenient extensions of the pivots between thelugs G and connecting-pieces joinin g the plate and block therewith. Thesaid guide-rails are horizontally arranged and serve to give to the saidformer-block and forming devices when passing between the wheels astraight, horizontal, and unyielding movement. During the time that thecan-forming devices are passing between the said wheels the overlappededge of the piece of tin carried thereby is acted upon by the solderingdevices, which are carried by the said arches A and A in a'suitablemanner.

It will of course be understood that the wings 17 and 18 are free toswing upon their pivots; but in their passage to the plate over the rearwheel a to the forward wheel the said wings are held from swinging downupon the former-block by means of the rails 32, upon which the wings 17and 18 rest, as shown in Fig. 4. The said rails 32 follow the curve ofthe chain to about the height of the shafts 3, where they terminate; butbefore the rails 32 end another pair of rails 33 commence and engage theother side of said wings before the wings leave the rails 32. The rails32 engage the inner face of said wings, while the rails 33 engage theouter face thereof, and the whole follow the curve of the chain to apoint about over the shafts 3 and gradually come nearer to each other asthey ascend, so that as the plate rises 'the wings will be elevated inan obvious manner.

The piece of tin from which the can is to be formed is placed upon theplateB just after the wings thereof have left the rails 32, and saidpiece of tin 3 L rests upon two holds or gages 35 upon plate B. The saidgages 35 are secured to pins or bolts that pass through slots 36 in saidplate 13 and are suitably secured beneath the plates by nuts. The saidgages 35 are arranged within the slots, so that the forward edge of theblank is located about theforward edge ofthe plate and formerblock, andsaid gages 35 can be adjusted along the slots to always bringthesaidblank into the correct position when for any reason suchadjustment is necessary. The lower face of the block is provided withopenin gs or recesses 37, that receive the said gages 35. Secured to thesupporting-arches A,and preferably to the left limb thereof, is a sidegage-plate 38, Figs. 1 and t, so that when the blank is placed upon theplate and one edge rests upon the side gage 38 the blank is in thecorrect position for being formed into a can. It will be seen that asthe block moves toward the plate and is thrown down thereupon, as beforedescribed, the .pin 28 upon said former-block will strike the ad justing-screw and elevate the said pivoted part 25, which makes the blankof the correct shape. The wings are then lifted by the rails 33 and bendthe tin blank up against the sides of the formenblock and over 011 topof the same, so that the edges of the tin slightly overlap each other,the blank being of such length to accomplish this result. WVhen thishappens, the former-block is about to move under the soldering-iron, andthe rails 33 are then located parallel to each other, so that the wingsare held in their closed position until the soldering operation isfinished. As soon as the former block and plate pass from under thesoldering-iron the rails 33 terminate and two deflecting-rails 39,secured to the arch 32, strike upwardly-projecting pins on the wings 17and 18, and by the divergence of said rails the wings are thrownoutwardly from the former-block G and fall upon curved parallel rails41, which prevent the said wings from falling too far. The wings 17 and18 rest upon these curved rails 41 until they reach the up per end ofthe rails 32 at about the height of the shaft 3, whereat the said curvedrails 41 terminate, and the said wings are then engaged on their innerface by the rails 32. Just as the said wings are thrown outwardly by thedeflecting rails 39 the curvature of the sprocket-whcel 4, around whichthat portion of the chain to which the shaping device is attached hascommenced to pass, will separate the former-block C and the plate B, ashereinbefore described, and when said parts are separated the spring 29will draw the upper pivoted part 25 downwardly, and thus diminish thesize of the former-blocks, so that the can that has been formed andsoldered thereon can be easily removed.

It will be noted that the yielding connection between the plate B andthe sprocket-chain to which it is secured, as attained by the use of thecushions S and 14, Figs. 9 and 13, hereinbefore described, serves toaccommodate blanks of different thickness that may be placed upon theplate, so that when a piece unusually thick is acted upon the said platewill give slightly to accommodate the same, and thus prevent breakage ofthe parts or misforming of the can. The said cushions are strong enoughto hold up the plate under all ordinary circumstances and only give whena plate of unusual thickness is placed thereon.

The soldering-iron E is held between the arches A and A and supportedfrom crosspieces 42, secured thereto. The said iron is provided withslotted openings 43, through which said cross-pieees 42 pass, andsprings 44 bear upon the upper face of said solderingiron to hold itdown upon the can as it passes under the same, but is adapted to yieldand conform to the thickness of the same. A pot or receptacle 45 issupported from the arch A and is adapted to hold the melted solderingmaterial, and from the bottom of the receptacle 45 a pipe or passage 46leads to the forward end of the soldering-iron and passes through thesame, having a solid connection therewith. The said pipe 46 is providedwith a stop-cock 47, by means of which the quantity of solderingmaterial passing there through can be regulated. The soldering materialis fed automatically by means of the valve 48, that controls thecommunication between the pot and receptacle 45 and the pipe 46. Thestem 49 of said valve passes upwardly and through the pot or receptacleand is pivoted to the horizontal arm of the bent lever 50, that ispivoted to a bracket 51 in the top of said receptacle. The other arm ofsaid lever (indicated by 52) extends downwardly and is provided on itslower end with an anti-friction roller 53, that is located in the pathof one of the wings of the plate, preferably wing 18.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that as soon as the plateand formerblock arrive under the soldering-iron the wing 18 will liftthe arm 52 of the lever upon the valve 48, whereupon the molten solderwill pass through the pipe 46 onto the overlapping portion of the canthat is under the opening in the "soldering-iron through which said pipe46 passes. The said valve will be opened until the wing 18 passes by theanti-friction roller 53, so that the solderin g will be distributedalong the entire lapped portion of the can, and thereby join the edgesof the blanks together.

It will be noted that the soldering-iron is much longer than the can, sothat after the joint has been soldered the can will still pass under therest of the soldering-iron, so as to be sweated.

In Figs. 4, 7, and 8 is shown the heating devices for the soldering-pot45 and iron E, which consists of a series of burners 54, upon a pipe 55,to which mixed gas and air is fed in a familiar manner. The burners 54are located in position to deliver their flames against thesoldering-iron, while from one end of the pipe 55 abranch 56 leadsupwardly and is provided with a burner 57, located to deliver its flameto the bottom of the solderingiron and keep the soldering materialtherein in a molten condition.

I claim as my invention- 1. A can forming and soldering machinecomprising a traveling plate provided with pivoted wings, a travelingformer-block adapted to be thrown upon said plate, guide-rails to throwsaid wings around said former-block, and a soldering-iron constructed tooperate on the blank when folded on the former-block.

2. A can forming and soldering machine comprising a traveling chain orcarrier trained around a couple of wheels, a plate provided with pivotedwings connected with said carrier, a former-block connected with saidcarrier, the connections between said former block and plate and carrierbeing such that said former-block will be thrown upon the plate whenpassing from one wheel to another, guide-rails for throwing said wingsupon the for mer-bloek, and a soldering-i ron constructed to operate onthe blank when folded on the former bloek.

3. A can forming andsoldering machine comprising a traveling plateprovided with pivoted wings, a traveling former-block adapt- Lil ed tobe thrown upon the plate, guide-rails 33 for throwing said wings aroundsaid formerblock, deflecting-rails 39 for throwing said wings away fromsaid former-block, rails for holding said wings extended, and asoldering-iron constructed to operate on the blank when folded on theformer-block.

4. A can forming and soldering machine comprising a traveling platehaving guideheads 35 and pivoted wings, a traveling former-block adaptedto be thrown upon said plate, a side gage 38, secured to the frame ofthe machine, guide-rails to throw said Wings around the former-block,and a soldering-iron constructed to operate on the blank when folded onthe former-block.

5. A can forming and soldering machine comprising a traveling platehaving pivoted wings, a traveling former-block adapted to be thrown uponsaid plate, said former-block consisting of two members pivotallyconnected with each other, a spring for holding said mem bers together,a pin or abutment on one of said members, adapted to strike the platewhen the former-block is thrown thereon and extend said members,guide-rails for throwing said wings around the former-block, and asoldering-iron constructed to operate on the blank when folded on theformer-block.

6. The combination, with the traveling plate and former-block of a canforming and soldering machine, of asoldering-iron located in the path ofsaid former-block and plate, constructed to operate on the blank whenfolded on the formerblock and supported in yielding bearings, asoldering-pot having a pipe or passage whose end is located near the forward end of said former-block, a valve c0n trolling the admission of thesoldering material through said pipes orpassage, an arm connected withand operating said valve, located in the path of wings upon said plate,guiderails for throwing said wings around the former-block, and heatingdevices for said pot and solderingiron.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEO KELLER.

Witnesses:

HARRY COBB KENNEDY, OTTO LUEBKERT.

